NEW YORK, July 20, 2016 /CNW/ -- IMAX Corporation (NYSE: IMAX) today reported second-quarter 2016 revenues of $91.7 million and GAAP net income after non-controlling interest of $7.8 million, or $0.11 per share. Adjusted net income after non-controlling interest was $12.1 million, or $0.18 per diluted share. EBITDA as calculated in accordance with the Company's credit facility was $29.0 million. For reconciliations of adjusted net income to reported net income, adjusted earnings per share to reported earnings per share, and for the definition and reconciliation of EBITDA as calculated in accordance with the Company's credit facility, please see the tables at the end of this press release.

"Demand for IMAX theatres has never been stronger and bodes well for our business as more signings lead to more installs, which then lead to more box office, and, ultimately, to greater revenue. Including the 95 theatres signed in the second quarter, we have signed nearly as many deals in the first half of 2016 as we did in all of 2015. This robust signings momentum has resulted in a record backlog, which includes a 40-theatre full revenue-share agreement with Guangzhou JinYi Media Corporation, a 25-theatre deal with AMC Theatres and additional multi-theatre agreements with several other key exhibition partners, and improves visibility into installations and ultimately revenue over the next several years. As a result, we are once again raising our installation guidance -this time to 155 theatres, up from our prior guidance range of 135 to 140 theatres and compared to our original 2016 install guidance range of 115 to 120 that was set late last year," said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond.

Network Update:

During the quarter, the Company installed 40 theatres, of which 38 were for new theatre locations and two were upgrades. The Company also signed contracts for 95 theatres in the second quarter of 2016. The total IMAX theatre network consisted of 1,102 systems as of June 30, 2016, of which 990 were in commercial multiplexes. There were 442 theatres in backlog as of June 30, 2016, up 14% from the 388 in backlog as of March 31, 2016. For a breakdown of theatre system signings, installations, network and backlog by type, please see the end of this press release.

Box Office Update:

Gross box office from IMAX DMR® titles was $260.8 million in the second quarter of 2016, compared with $343.0 million in the prior-year period, which was the highest-grossing box office quarter in Company history and included Furious 7, Jurassic World, and Avengers: Age of Ultron last year. The average global DMR box office per-screen average in the second quarter of 2016 was $268,200.

"While IMAX faced a challenging comparison to last year's second-quarter box office - which was the highest-grossing box office quarter in Company history - considering the strong outperformance in box office we saw in the first quarter, we believe our portfolio of titles released across the full year will result in an annual box office that is relatively consistent with our historical PSA. Looking ahead, we expect our heightened network growth in 2016, which is heavily weighted towards our joint revenue-sharing model, will position us well to capitalize on a promising array of upcoming tentpole franchises and sequels this year and next, including Suicide Squad, Marvel's Dr. Strange, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Kong: Skull Island, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Spider-Man Homecoming, and, of course, Star Wars: Episode VIII."

Second-Quarter Segment Results

-- Revenue from sales and sales-type leases was $18.7 million in the second
quarter of 2016, compared with $18.7 million in the second quarter of
2015. The Company installed 13 full theatre systems under sales and
sales-type lease arrangements in the most recent quarter, compared with
the 15 full sales-type theatres the Company installed in the second
quarter of 2015.
-- Revenue from joint revenue-sharing arrangements was $23.9 million in the
quarter, compared with $31.6 million in the prior-year period. During
the quarter, the Company installed 25 new theatres under joint
revenue-sharing arrangements, compared with 20 in the second quarter of
2015. The Company had 559 theatres operating under joint revenue-sharing
arrangements as of June 30, 2016, as compared to 477 joint
revenue-sharing theatres one year prior.
-- Production and DMR revenues were $27.4 million in the second quarter of
2016, compared with $36.6 million in the second quarter of 2015. As
mentioned above, gross box office from DMR titles was $260.8 million in
the second quarter of 2016, compared with $343.0 million in the
prior-year period, which was the highest grossing box office quarter in
Company history and included Furious 7, Jurassic World, and Avengers:
Age of Ultron last year. The global DMR per screen average in the second
quarter of 2016 was $268,200, compared with $414,600 in same period last
year.
-- Gross margin of 54.8%, compared with 64.4% last year, primarily
resulting from lower box office, higher DMR cost and a larger mix of
hybrid sales in the quarter.
-- Operating expenses (which include SG&A and R&D, and excludes stock-based
compensation) were $27.7 million in the quarter, compared with $26.3
million in the second quarter of 2015.
Share Buybacks

The Company repurchased 1,344,094 shares in the second quarter of 2016, which does not include 68,430 shares purchased in connection with the Company's long-term incentive plan. The Company purchased the shares at an average price of $30.55, for a total value of $41.1 million.

Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call today at 4:30 PM ET to discuss its second-quarter 2016 financial results. To access the call via telephone, interested parties in the US and Canada should dial (800) 505-9568 approximately 5 to 10 minutes before the call begins. Other international callers should dial (416) 204-9271. The conference ID for the call is 1146762. A replay of the call will be available via webcast on the 'Investor Relations' section of www.imax.com or via telephone by dialing (888) 203-1112 (US and Canada), or (647) 436-0148 (international). The Conference ID for the telephone replay is 1146762.

About IMAX Corporation
IMAX, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines proprietary software, architecture and equipment to create experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a world you've never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theatres to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, and, as such, IMAX's network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe.

IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, with offices in London, Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing. As of Jun. 30, 2016, there were 1,102 IMAX theatres (990 commercial multiplexes, 16 commercial destinations and 96 institutions) in 69 countries. On Oct. 8, 2015, shares of IMAX China, a subsidiary of IMAX Corp., began trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code "HK.1970."

This press release contains forward looking statements that are based on IMAX management's assumptions and existing information and involve certain risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Important factors that could affect these statements include, but are not limited to, references to future capital expenditures (including the amount and nature thereof), business and technology strategies and measures to implement strategies, competitive strengths, goals, expansion and growth of business, operations and technology, plans and references to the future success of IMAX Corporation together with its consolidated subsidiaries (the "Company") and expectations regarding the Company's future operating, financial and technological results. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will conform with the expectations and predictions of the Company is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the signing of theater system agreements; conditions, changes and developments in the commercial exhibition industry; the performance of IMAX DMR films; the potential impact of increased competition in the markets within which the Company operates; competitive actions by other companies; the failure to respond to change and advancements in digital technology; risks associated with investments and operations in foreign jurisdictions and any future international expansion, including those related to economic, political and regulatory policies of local governments and laws and policies of the United States and Canada; risks related to the Company's growth and operations in China; the Company's largest customer accounting for a significant portion of the Company's revenue and backlog; risks related to new business initiatives; conditions in the in-home and out-of-home entertainment industries; the opportunities (or lack thereof) that may be presented to and pursued by the Company; risks related to cyber-security; risks related to the Company's inability to protect its intellectual property; risks related to the Company's implementation of a new enterprise resource planning system; general economic, market or business conditions; the failure to convert theater system backlog into revenue; changes in laws or regulations; and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. These factors, other risks and uncertainties and financial details are discussed in IMAX's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

(6) Includes 24 upgrades to a digital theater system, in existing IMAX theater locations (two xenon configurations and 22 laser configurations, of which five are under joint revenue sharing arrangements).

Additional Information (continued)

In addition to the 21 IMAX DMR films released to the IMAX theater network during the first six months ended June 30, 2016, 21 additional IMAX DMR films have been announced so far to be released in the remaining six months of 2016:

To date, the Company has announced the following 13 titles to be released in 2017 to the IMAX theater network:

-- Attraction: An IMAX 3D Experience (Art Pictures Studio, January 2017,
Russia only);
-- God Particle: The IMAX Experience (Paramount Pictures, February 2017);
-- Untitled Wolverine Film: The IMAX Experience (20th Century Fox, March
2017);
-- Kong: Skull Island: An IMAX 3D Experience (Warner Bros. Pictures, March
2017);
-- Ghost in the Shell: An IMAX 3D Experience (Paramount Pictures, March
2017);
-- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2: An IMAX 3D Experience (Walt Disney
Studios, May 2017);
-- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales: An IMAX 3D Experience
(Walt Disney Studios, May 2017);
-- Transformers: The Last Knight: An IMAX 3D Experience (Paramount
Pictures, June 2017);
-- Spider-Man: Homecoming: An IMAX 3D Experience (Sony Pictures, July
2017);
-- Dunkirk: The IMAX Experience (Warner Bros. Pictures, July 2017);
-- Thor: Ragnarök: An IMAX 3D Experience (Walt Disney Studios, November
2017);
-- Justice League: An IMAX 3D Experience (Warner Bros. Pictures, November
2017); and
-- Star Wars: Episode VIII: An IMAX 3D Experience (Walt Disney Studios,
December 2017);
The Company remains in active negotiations with all of the major Hollywood studios for additional films to fill out its short and long-term film slate, and anticipates that a similar number of IMAX DMR films will be released to the IMAX network in 2016 to the 44 films that were released to the IMAX network in 2015.

(including share-based compensation expense of $6.2 million and $14.7 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively (2015 - expense of $5.1 million
and $10.7 million, respectively))

Research and development 3,435 2,347 7,143 6,889

Amortization of intangibles 515 443 1,006 873

Receivable provisions, net of recoveries 230 343 356 348

Impairment of investments 194 350 194 350
--- ---

Income from operations 15,467 36,529 31,734 39,181

Interest income 380 259 847 505

Interest expense (458) (403) (856) (707)
---- ---- ---- ----

Income from operations before income taxes 15,389 36,385 31,725 38,979

(1) Includes $0.2 million and $0.3 million of amortization of deferred financing costs charged to interest expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively (2015 - $0.2 million and $0.4 million, respectively).

(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents during period (89,368) 39,880

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 317,449 106,503

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $228,081 $146,383
======== ========

IMAX CORPORATION

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

In accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

(in thousands of U.S. dollars)

The Company has seven reportable segments identified by category of product sold or service provided: IMAX systems; theater system maintenance; joint revenue sharing arrangements; film production and IMAX DMR; film distribution; film post-production; and other. The IMAX systems segment includes the design, manufacture, sale or lease of IMAX theater projection system equipment. The theater system maintenance segment includes the maintenance of IMAX theater projection system equipment in the IMAX theater network. The joint revenue sharing arrangements segment includes the provision of IMAX theater projection system equipment to an exhibitor in exchange for a share of the box-office and concession revenues. The film production and IMAX DMR segment includes the production of films and the performance of film re-mastering services. The film distribution segment includes the distribution of films for which the Company has distribution rights. The film post-production segment provides film post-production and film print services. The other segment includes certain IMAX theaters that the Company owns and operates, camera rentals and other miscellaneous items.

(1) IMAX systems include marketing and commission costs of $0.6 million and $1.1 million for the three
and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively (2015 -$0.6 million and $0.9 million,
respectively). Joint revenue sharing arrangements segment margins include advertising, marketing and
commission costs of $1.4 million and $1.5 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016,
respectively (2015 -$1.3 million and $1.4 million, respectively). Production and DMR segment
margins include marketing costs of $5.2 million and $7.5 million for the three and six months ended
June 30, 2016, respectively (2015 -$3.6 million and $4.9 million, respectively). Distribution
segment margins include marketing expense of $0.8 million and $1.5 million for the three and six
months ended June 30, 2016, respectively (2015 -cost of less than $0.1 million and cost recovery of
$0.1 million, respectively).

IMAX CORPORATION

OTHER INFORMATION

(in thousands of U.S. dollars)

Non-GAAP Financial Measures:

In this release, the Company presents adjusted net income, adjusted net income per diluted share, adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders and adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders per diluted share as supplemental measures of performance of the Company, which are not recognized under U.S. GAAP. The Company presents adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted share because it believes that they are important supplemental measures of its comparable controllable operating performance and it wants to ensure that its investors fully understand the impact of its stock-based compensation (net of any related tax impact) on net income. In addition, the Company presents adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders and adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders per diluted share because it believes that they are important supplemental measures of its comparable financial results and could potentially distort the analysis of trends in business performance and it wants to ensure that its investors fully understand the impact of net income attributable to non-controlling interests and its stock-based compensation (net of any related tax impact) in determining net income attributable to common shareholders. Management uses these measures to review operating performance on a comparable basis from period to period. However, these non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled amounts reported by other companies. Adjusted net income, adjusted net income per diluted share, adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders and adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders per diluted share should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, net income and net income attributable to common shareholders and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

The Credit Facility provides that the Company will be required at all times to satisfy a Minimum Liquidity Test (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of at least $50.0 million. The Company will also be required to maintain minimum adjusted EBITDA (as defined in the credit agreement) of $100.0 million. The Company must also maintain a Maximum Total Leverage Ratio (as defined in the credit agreement) of 2.25:1.0, which requirement decreases to (i) 2.0:1.0 on December 31, 2016; and (ii) 1.75:1.0 on December 31, 2017. The Company was in compliance with all of these requirements at June 30, 2016. The ratio of total debt to adjusted EBITDA was 0.21:1 as at June 30, 2016, where Total Debt (as defined in the credit agreement) is the sum of all obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments and was $28.7 million. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as follows:

The Company reported net income of $10.7 million or $0.16 per basic and diluted share for the second quarter of 2016 as compared to net income of $26.4 million or $0.37 per basic share and $0.36 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2015. Net income for the second quarter of 2016 includes a $6.2 million charge or $0.09 per diluted share (2015 -- $5.1 million or $0.07 per diluted share) for stock-based compensation. Adjusted net income, which consists of net income excluding the impact of stock-based compensation and the related tax impact, was $15.1 million or $0.22 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2016 as compared to adjusted net income of $30.7 million or $0.42 per diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, 2015. Adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders, which consists of net income attributable to common shareholders excluding the impact of stock-based compensation and the related tax impact, was $12.1 million or $0.18 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2016 as compared to adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders of $28.7 million or $0.40 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2015. A reconciliation of net income and net income attributable to common shareholders, the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure, to adjusted net income, adjusted net income per diluted share, adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders and adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders per diluted share is presented in the table below:

The Company reported net income of $22.9 million or $0.33 per basic and diluted share for the six months ended June 30, 2016, as compared to net income of $27.9 million or $0.39 per basic share and $0.38 per diluted share for the six months ended June 30, 2015. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2016 includes a $14.7 million charge or $0.21 per diluted share (2015 -- $10.7 million or $0.15 per diluted share) for stock-based compensation. Adjusted net income, which consists of net income excluding the impact of stock-based compensation and the related tax impact, was $33.4 million or $0.48 per diluted share for the six months ended June 30, 2016, as compared to adjusted net income of $36.8 million or $0.51 per diluted share for the six months ended June 30, 2015. Adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders, which consists of net income attributable to common shareholders excluding the impact of stock-based compensation and the related tax impact, was $27.6 million or $0.40 per diluted share for the six months ended June 30, 2016, as compared to adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders of $33.7 million or $0.47 per diluted share for the six months ended June 30, 2015. A reconciliation of net income and net income attributable to common shareholders, the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure, to adjusted net income, adjusted net income per diluted share, adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders and adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders per diluted share is presented in the table below:

(1) Includes impact of $0.5 million of accretion charges associated with redeemable Class C shares of IMAX China.

Free Cash Flow:
Free cash flow is defined as cash provided by operating activities minus cash used in investing activities (from the consolidated statements of cash flows). Cash provided by operating activities consist of net income, plus depreciation and amortization, plus the change in deferred income taxes, plus other non-cash items, plus changes in working capital, less investment in film assets, plus other changes in operating assets and liabilities. Cash used in investing activities includes capital expenditures, acquisitions and other cash used in investing activities. Management views free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure, as a measure of the Company's after-tax cash flow available to reduce debt, add to cash balances, and fund other financing activities. Free cash flow does not represent residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures. A reconciliation of cash provided by operating activities to free cash flow is presented in the table below: